It’s President’s Day. Not all of out Commander and Chief’s have been drinker’s, but many have. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson even ran distilleries as part of their households. Distilling and brewing was quite common in those days.
Here’s a cocktails our commander and chief’s preferred.
Gerald Ford: Gin and Tonic
Herbert Hoover: Martini
Richard Nixon: Rum & Coke
Franklin D. Roosevelt: Scotch or Brandy
Harry Truman: Bourbon
Lyndon Johnson: Scotch and Soda
Warren Harding: Everything
Well that’s it 2009 is almost a wrap, but not before we have a few cocktails first. As always Drink of the Week has some clever new cocktails for your enjoyment. First, a couple of cocktails for New Year’s Eve. Start with the New Year’s Sparkler and then just around midnight switch to the Midnight Kick for just that. A bit of tequila will keep the night going strong. On New Year’s Day you can start working on you 2010 resolutions, we have a few cocktail themed solutions. Booze will definitely make them easier to keep.
New Year’s Sparkler
Infuse passion into the New Year with a classic cocktail with SKYY Infusions Passion Fruit, fresh juice and raspberries. The New Year’s Sparkler is an easy way to spice up your champagne flute this New Year’s Eve. Even better? This cocktail is a smart, low calorie option to help you get started on your New Year’s resolutions.
1 oz. SKYY Infusions Passion Fruit
1.5 oz. Pomegranate Juice
3.5 oz. Champagne
5-6 Raspberries
Combine SKYY Infusions Passion Fruit and pomegranate juice in a chilled champagne flute and top with champagne. Garnish with raspberry tree.*
*Slide 5-6 raspberries onto long skewer and place vertically in champagne glass.
Midnight Kick
2 oz. Cabo Añejo Tequila
Orange Slice
Cinnamon
Wet the rim of a chilled shot glass with the orange slice. Then rim the shot glass with powdered cinnamon on a plate. Be careful not to turn the glass right side up until it has been rimmed. The orange liquid will drip otherwise. Shake the Cabo Tequila with ice in a shaker and strain into the chilled shot glass. Slam the shot and then bite into the orange slice to finish.
I was mulling over different ideas for a end of year post and landed on this fun list while looking at the years site activity. This list is as democratic as they come, it basically the top cocktails determined by views. The biggest surprise? The sidecar at #1, glad to see. It was always Rachel’s favorite. It knocked the much derided Appletini from the top spot (it’s #2 this year), a spot it had held for several years.
So here it is with out further ado - the top 10 cocktails Drink of the Week readers looked at most in 2009.
It’s cold, so let’s try a bit of the Tropics, here’s a twist on the classic Mai Tai, AKA the Pai Tai!
Drink this while you pretend it’s still warm outside! (Unless you live in Hawaii, where I took this photo, in which case you don’t have to pretend)
This recipe differs from the Trader Vic’s recipe … but both are pretty tasty! This one includes pineapple juice because it is inspired by my recent visit to the islands!
Pineapple Mai Tai (AKA Pai Tai)
1 1/2 oz. light rum
3/4 oz. dark rum
1/2 oz. Grand Marnier
1 oz. pineapple juice
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
Put ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker and shake for 30 seconds. Strain into glass and garnish with pineapple wedge and orchid.
Earlier this week the folks at Campari held their Holiday Bitter Bash at Bourbon & Branch in San Francisco. It was night of Negronis and other tasty Campari cocktails. Upon entering the bar we were greeted by some of Santa’s Helpers with a bowlful this wonderful punch created by mixologist Jon Gasparini of Rye on the Road
Campari Nicaraguan Punch
15 oz. Campari
10 oz. Flor de Cana 7 year
7 1/2 oz. Cinzano Rosso
10 oz. Grapefruit Juice
2 1/2oz. Honey
Combine juice of ten lemons and 30 cloves in a Tupperware container or cake mold and freeze. Combine all ingredients in a large punch bowl with flavored iced block.
From there we were treated to several more Campari cocktails in the Library including the classic Negroni, and it’s naughty cousin, the Naughty Negroni made with equal parts of Grapefruit Vodka, Campari, Sweet Vermouth and Pama pomegranate Liqueur. One of my favorites was the Sanguinello, a refreshing of Campari, Limoncello and Blood Orange juice from the Peninsula Hotel in New York.
Sanguinello
1 oz. Campari
3/4 oz. limoncello
2 oz. blood orange juice
Blood orange wedge for garnish
Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain onto fresh ice in a highball glass.
Garnish with a blood orange wedge.
The evening was complimented by a trio of singers belting out the holiday classics. We even had Christmas cookies!
Just because it’s December doesn’t mean that only eggnog is on the cocktail menu. You’ve heard of “Christmas in July?” Well, now Drink of the Week is starting Summer in December by sharing some of our favorite tropical drinks.
Bananas have that tropical flair but are available all year. So along with our friends at Savvy Housekeeping, we created a summer drink that works any time of the year.
This simple banana daiquiri isn’t thick or overly sweet — a common problem with many blended drinks. Instead it’s light and refreshing. Oh, and it doesn’t skimp on the booze either.
So let’s forget about the rain and celebrate with a tropical December!
Banana Daiquiri
2 oz. white rum
Juice of half a lime
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup crushed ice
Half a fresh banana
Put all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth (probably about 30 seconds). Strain into chilled cocktail glasses. This recipe serves one, so increase accordingly to serve more.
Booze that tastes good, looks good and comes at a reasonable price? Now there’s a holiday gift! The Kraken Rum is a black spice Caribbean rum with a solid kick and a strong molasses, cinnamon, and vanilla flavor. It’s 94 proof, so it packs quite a punch served straight.
A kraken is a giant squid, so the fun concept is that it’s a strong liquor as dark as squid ink. The packaging is beautiful, making it a great gift on two fronts. (Also the finger holes at the top are surprisingly satisfying to hold on to)
It runs about $20 a bottle, but the graphics alone make it look like it’s worth much more. Know anyone who loves a nice spiced rum, can handle their liquor and cares about aesthetics? This is the gift for them!
It’s President’s Day. Not all of out Commander and Chief’s have been drinker’s, but many have. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson even ran distilleries as part of their households. Distilling and brewing was quite common in those days. 
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It’s cold, so let’s try a bit of the Tropics, here’s a twist on the classic Mai Tai, AKA the Pai Tai! 
Drink this while you pretend it’s still warm outside! (Unless you live in Hawaii, where I took this photo, in which case you don’t have to pretend)
One of my favorites was the Sanguinello, a refreshing of Campari, Limoncello and Blood Orange juice from the Peninsula Hotel in New York.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=2cf25c95-2a06-4c6f-9e68-4d3a36f8f198)
Booze that tastes good, looks good and comes at a reasonable price? Now there’s a holiday gift! The Kraken Rum is a black spice Caribbean rum with a solid kick and a strong molasses, cinnamon, and vanilla flavor. It’s 94 proof, so it packs quite a punch served straight.
